Main menu

The Bryan Herta Autosport squad is among five teams in negotiations to use Lotus's new V6 engine in the 2012 Izod IndyCar Series. Photo by Bryan Herta Autosport

IndyCar: Bryan Herta Autosport negotiating with Lotus for 2012

November 9, 2011

Share

Facebook

Tweet

Pinterest

Email

The Indianapolis 500-winning Bryan Herta Autosport squad is one of three teams in the frame to run in British Racing Green as a Lotus factory operation next season.

The Indianapolis-based team, which won this year's 500 with the late Dan Wheldon on a one-off IndyCar appearance, is among five teams in negotiation to use the British sports-car manufacturer's new V6 engine in the 2012 Izod IndyCar Series, according to Lotus Motorsport boss Claudio Berro. Herta, along with HVM and Dreyer & Reinbold, are known to be those in contention for a factory or support deal.

Berro said, “We are talking to teams at a good level, and I can confirm that we have had close discussions with Herta, HVM and Dreyer & Reinbold. We are also talking to Michael Shank Racing and Conquest Racing.

“There are two types of deal on offer. One is a lease contract and one is a support deal, a commercial agreement, which would mean a team racing its car in green and yellow. I think we can have that.”

Berro would not confirm which teams were in the running for what are believed to be the two factory deals on offer and insisted that no contracts had been signed. He explained that he would be travelling to the United States at the end of this month to firm up arrangements.

Herta, who is planning to run one new Dallara DW12 next season, would not comment on the state of his negotiations with Lotus.

“I'd rather not say anything yet because we are in the midst of negotiations,” he said. “I would say that we are very close to putting our deal together.”

HVM is believed to be closest to a factory deal. Its mechanics were understood to be have started building up a new Dallara around a mock-up of the Lotus V6 this week.

Berro admitted disappointment at KV's decision to use the Chevrolet engine next season. He explained that the team, which had technical support for its BRG-liveried Honda-engined Dallaras in 2010-11, had a contract with the British company that extended into 2012.

The new Lotus V6, which is under development at Engine Developments (Judd) in the United Kingdom, should hit the track this month.